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| Marijuana....Friend of Foe?
Posted: 8/19/2006 12:12:33 AM | | Seriously... if she cant get through life without weed then she has a serious problem...if she cant handle daily life without toking up then she needs professional help. if you are a friend you would try to point her in that direction. | |
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| Marijuana....Friend of Foe?
Posted: 8/20/2006 9:30:35 PM | i try to
live a life of balance and moderation
with or without pot
with or without people preaching about pot | |
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| Marijuana....Friend of Foe?
Posted: 8/24/2006 11:49:32 AM | Interesting debate. One distinction could be made that, in my opinion, would be useful.
Regardless of whether you are pro-, anti-, undecided or otherwise, there are at least three issues in play.
1. The medical impact of pot (or any drug, for that matter, including caffeine for example) on the individuals that use it, depending on how often, and the propensity (genetic or otherwise) of that person to addiction to that specific substance.
2. The life-course impact of the drug, i.e. what it does to your prospects of social or economic success, however that is defined-- attaining other goals in your life that have nothing to do with the substance.
3. The government's response to the drug: aggressive prohibition, passive prohibition, absence of regulation, regulation, taxation, promotion etc.
These are all three quite separate things.
Take alcohol: medical impact has been demonstrated to be positive in mild, consistent doses, negative otherwise, ranging up to debilitating and lethal in chronic massive doses.
Life course impact, positive (mostly) for purely social drinkers, negative for those with mild drinking problems, ranging from negative to devastating for those with severe drinking problems, depending on their social resources (you have alcoholic Prime Ministers and alcoholic vagrants).
Government response: U.S. tried aggressive prohibition, result was disastrous. Now we have a mix of pretty passive prohibition (based on age), regulation, heavy taxation. Is it the right mix? Well, we have a lot of social drinkers, some non-drinkers, and a population of hard-core alcoholics with lives devastated by booze and their inability to control their addictions.
I would agree with those who argue that #3 rarely has any sensible relationship to #1 or #2, as it has more to do with what politicians perceive will get them re-elected.
It's fruitless to argue that laws ought to be based on what you consider to be rational.
Unless and until the elected things perceive that conventional wisdom in favour of a particular change in the law is strong enough to threaten their re-election unless something is changed, they will not act. | |
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| Marijuana....Friend of Foe?
Posted: 11/9/2006 11:27:00 AM | | I used to use pot, and thought it was harmless until recently. The town that I live in has a serious drug problem. These kids start doing pot (which when we're younger we're all told how bad it is) and graduate onto something different... I think kids find themselves immune to overdoses and serious medical mishaps when it comes to the drug... 20 years ago when our parents were smoking pot, the THC levels were around 3-5, these days they're more like 45. Kicking pot takes almost as long in rehab as kicking cocaine or herion.... to me that's sad. If only it was as simple to get high and burn out "all the time" like sometime people have said... | |
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| Marijuana....Friend of Foe?
Posted: 11/9/2006 12:58:02 PM | First of all GATEWAY DRUG??? --MY ASS!! if anything is a gateway drug is booze, most people i know tried their first drug when they were already drunk
secondly.. you want to know why so many people hate pot and people who smoke it? Because of a prohibition. Pot has been used by people in different societies easliy as long as alcohol.
How many crimes were commited of alcohol or hard drugs? thousands per year.....
how many times has someone got baked and said"hey man lets robb a bank" (im voting very rarely on this one) the worst thing anyone does is "hey man you stole my chips ahoy!"
Too the flames honey....... sorry dear but i know people who have been addicted to coke, heroin, and alcohol, the rehab for pot is far less intense as these harder drugs. The medical feild rates things like coke, caffiene, and heroin much the same, nicotene is bar far the hardest and pot is extremly low on the scale. The folks i know would roll on the floor in laughter if you told them that kicking pot was as hard as coke, its not and it never will be.
Now i know people are going to come back with so-called "facts about marijuanna" but step back before you read these "facts" these fact sheets are mainly produced out of the USA a country whose government is vehemently opposed to marijuanna. Compare these with facts from europe, asia or Canada and you will notice the disparity.
In the 1950's and 60's the usa was regularly flinging anti-pot propaghanda, they were telling people that pot will make you suicidal, or an unremorsefull killer, or comp-letely insane or all of the above.
These are the same people who at the time were saying ciggarettes are harmless.
Im fine with opinions, but it bothers me when people are mis-informed.
I dont think people should expose kids to pot, not anymore than they should get wasted at a xmas party with children present (but THIS seems socially acceptable unfortunatly)
Just about anything in moderation is ok in my books. The Key being moderation..
Too much POF just might give you carpal tunnel syndrome, back problems, and reduced sense of reality..should it be a "controlled substance"?
ps... just because the government says its "illegal" and pot is barley even illegal anymore anyways...does that make it right?
Goverments make all kinds of bad decisions, and an intellegent person will not blindly follow if they believe a law is unjust. | |
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| Marijuana....Friend of Foe?
Posted: 11/9/2006 1:49:12 PM | ^^^ Awesome post, i wont get into what i think, but i just wanted to add!
Thats not only did they say Smoking was fine for you, and had no long term effect's! Actually they prescribed tobacco for Emphysema, and gave out Morophine like tylenol!
Should we really put all our faith in these people 
Everyone probably knows my stand, i really like being able to eat solid food, and i like being able to see! | |
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| Marijuana....Friend of Foe?
Posted: 11/9/2006 1:51:00 PM | i think i can some it all up with two words,,,,,
DUDE,,,,, HERE | |
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| Marijuana....Friend of Foe?
Posted: 11/9/2006 1:54:55 PM | How about this!
For canadians Pot is more of a friend than a foe!
For some its a real bad foe! and those people need their friend's!
i mean really, booze is my foe, its not illegal, and most people are responsible, i never have a problem being where people are drinking either, i have fun watching bands and everyones drinking, and thats fine because for the most part their responsible, but if i drank, responsibility would go straight out the window! Now does that make booze your foe, not at all, it makes it my foe | |
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| Marijuana....Friend of Foe?
Posted: 11/9/2006 3:25:45 PM | | but you drink socially, and feel that is not a drug?? Something says hypocrite to me. | |
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| Marijuana....Friend of Foe?
Posted: 11/9/2006 3:26:42 PM | This has been a great thread and frankly, I'm surprised it hasn't been deleted. Hooray for small miracles.
Pot is MY friend. I smoke it, I like it. I won't put a gun to someones head and say "toke it or die". I don't know of any Ganjarians (new word I just made up, testing it out) who would force it upon anyone else. I don't use any other drugs other than pot dirrivitives (hash, oil). Have been a user for 8 years, and I have never had a bad experience with it, nor have any of the people I associate with, many of whom have been using much longer than I have.
THAT IS US, NOT YOU.
Now for the arguments raised in this thread.
GATEWAY DRUG- If all pot users went on to use harder drugs, it would be a gateway drug. Seeing how there have been many case studies (look at all those apposed to this idea on this thread alone) stating that pot use has not led to hard drug use. Therefore I conclude that pot is not a gateway drug. Weak willed people and those prone to addiction make a concious choice to delve into the hard stuff.
LEGALITY- It is true that marijuana is illegal. Up until recently, so was gay marraige and polygamy. How many Mormons would be considered criminals today if polygamy were still illegal? Food for thought. As stated in previous posts, immorality and illegality are two different subjects. Besides, there are stronger substances out there that are completely legal. Case in point-SALVIA. You can walk into any head shop and order the stuff by the gram. You could walk into any police station in the country with a pound of the stuff under your arm and they couldn't do anything to you. You could smoke it right in front of them and they'd be powerless. For those who have never heard of this stuff, you take one puff, hold it in for a few seconds then exhale. Instantly, and I do mean RIGHT AWAY, you're off to lala land. Different experience for everyone, of course, but in all cases you're just not there. Lasts for less time than it takes to smoke a cigarette, but theres no functioning during that time. A friend of mine pissed himself on it and didn't know until he came out of it. As well as this, there are seeds (once again, perfectly legal, buy at any head shop) that are the equivilant to a 4-8 hour LSD trip. I've only tried the Salvia, but in my opinion, it should be illegal. Far worse than any weed I've ever smoked.
HEALTH ISSUES- More study is needed. PERIOD.
LIFE SUCCESS RATE- The success of ones life can only be measured in their overall happiness. A bum on the street could very easily enjoy his/her life as much as a CEO of a Fortune 500 company. It has absolutely nothing to do with a drug.
In the end, its all a choice, one everyone must make. Do or do not, there is no try. There is much wisdom in the words of Yoda. To all those who dont smoke it, I guess you won't be joining me in my social circle. Too bad, you all seem like good people, and its a shame you value me and my kind less than you and your kind. But what can you do eh?
To those who don't do it and have no problem with others using it, I congratulate you. You are definately good people whom I would associate with any day of the week and twice on Sunday's. Too bad everyone isn't like you. For those who smoke and are proud of it, RIGHT ON!! My kind of people. You are the salt of the Earth my friends and shall lead interesting lives, each and every one of you. And you closet smokers out there, you know who you are, you are not alone in this world. There is a whole society of people out there like you. Seek these people out, they are most likely your friends. Finally, the hard drug users. Seek help.
Thank you and good day to you all. | |
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| Marijuana....Friend of Foe?
Posted: 1/24/2007 2:35:46 PM | There has been a definite lack of good research done over the years as to what the exact effects are of marjiuana use but results are starting to emerge from recent studies.
Research clearly demonstrates that marijuana has the potential to cause problems in daily life or make a person's existing problems worse. Depression, anxiety, and personality disturbances have been associated with chronic marijuana use. Because marijuana compromises the ability to learn and remember information, the more a person uses marijuana the more he or she is likely to fall behind in accumulating intellectual, job, or social skills. Moreover, research has shown that marijuana’s adverse impact on memory and learning can last for days or weeks after the acute effects of the drug wear off.
A study of 129 college students found that, among those who smoked the drug at least 27 of the 30 days prior to being surveyed, critical skills related to attention, memory, and learning were significantly impaired, even after the students had not taken the drug for at least 24 hours. These "heavy" marijuana abusers had more trouble sustaining and shifting their attention and in registering, organizing, and using information than did the study participants who had abused marijuana no more than 3 of the previous 30 days. As a result, someone who smokes marijuana every day may be functioning at a reduced intellectual level all of the time.
Workers who smoke marijuana are more likely than their coworkers to have problems on the job. Several studies associate workers' marijuana smoking with increased absences, tardiness, accidents, workers' compensation claims, and job turnover. A study among postal workers found that employees who tested positive for marijuana on a pre-employment urine drug test had 55 percent more industrial accidents, 85 percent more injuries, and a 75-percent increase in absenteeism compared with those who tested negative for marijuana use. In another study, heavy marijuana abusers reported that the drug impaired several important measures of life achievement including cognitive abilities, career status, social life, and physical and mental health.
http://www.drugabuse.gov/Infofacts/marijuana.html
When coupled with other drugs such as tobacco and alcohol, there appears to be a wide variety of reactions to this "chemical****ail" but the studies obviously don't separate the effects of each one or focus on "combination effects".
The bottom line is that all of the latest studies appear to indicate negative effects on a person... NOT positive ones. | |
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| Marijuana....Friend of Foe?
Posted: 1/24/2007 2:41:18 PM | http://www.drugabuse.gov/Infofacts/marijuana.html???????
Hardly an unbiased site!
Try a university, research orginization WITHOUT a preset agenda!
Then you might have some real data to show us! | |
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| Marijuana....Friend of Foe?
Posted: 1/24/2007 3:07:29 PM | Marijuana is not my thing...but thats my choice. I do have a lot of friends who smoke it from occasionally to a lot. And that is up to them...
I don't think I could date someone who smoked it regularly though. | |
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| Marijuana....Friend of Foe?
Posted: 1/24/2007 3:09:54 PM | Nothing wrong with pot. The only reason it's was made illegal in 1923, was racially motivated. Google, why is marijuana illegal. I did, find a lot of neat stuff out. No one has EVER overdosed from pot, you mighta thought he was dead, but then he woke up 1/2 hour later hungry enough to eat everything in your whole house. Now, take 13 tylonol and thats your last headache.
GOD made pot
MAN made booze
WHO DO YOU TRUST???
Take care
Crude | |
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| Marijuana....Friend of Foe?
Posted: 1/24/2007 3:18:09 PM | any mind altering substance is only as harmful as the mind it is altering
these things will just make you more yourself
and as above
the pot is organic | |
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| Marijuana....Friend of Foe?
Posted: 1/24/2007 6:07:06 PM | My profile from day one has said that I am a 'social' drug user.
The drug I use most often? Alcohol.
I smoke pot once in a while, can't remember the last time I purchased any - it truly is a social thing for me. If I'm at a party and some one sparks up, I might have a toke if offered. I don't believe the "gateway" drug argument either, I've been smoking since I was in highschool and that is more than 20 years, never tried anything harder by choice. Addictive? Don't think so - well for me anyway. I can go months without a hoot, and experience no withdrawal symptoms (as a reformed nicotine addict, I know what withdrawal symptoms are)
And just one last thing. The only person I know who has died from a drug overdose got her start with prescription drugs. She didn't like pot as a matter of fact, it was too mellow. She wanted the BIG high. Pain killers were her friend, and when that ran out she turned to crack.
Legal drugs? Illegal drugs?
Used in moderation I don't see the problem with either. | |
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| Marijuana....Friend of Foe?
Posted: 1/24/2007 6:14:33 PM | "Used in moderation I don't see the problem with either."
Agreed.
Drugs aren't the problem. The problem is people who can't handle them and give them a bad name.
It's your life..screw what the government says you "legally" can or cannot do with your body. | |
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| Marijuana....Friend of Foe?
Posted: 1/24/2007 7:18:00 PM | is it me or is smoking pot getting to be more socially acceptable than smoking cigarettes?
I remember, back in 99', a dear friend of mine going through his cancer treatments at the Cross Cancer Institute.
He stopped in a few weeks before he passed away and we had a couple of beers together. He then mentioned to me, that after one of his treatments, he went outside to have a cigarette. He was told he was not allowed to have a cigarette anywhere near the building, as the security guard told him, its policy.
The ironic thing was right next to him,were 2 people smoking a "medicinal" joint, right infront of the door and they were not bothered by the security guard, its allowed.
So I guess to answer your question, the answer is yes. Cigarettes will become illegal and pot legal. Then in a few decades or so, maby everything will come full circle again!!!!!!!
I have no objection to someone, once in a blue moon having a puff. I have seen first hand what it does, to a regular user over many years. The agitation, mood swings and memory loss.People who are daily users and say it doesnt affect them, are really just fibbin to themselves.
Its all up to yourself. Id sure as heck wouldnt want to board an airliner, knowing the pilot brought his bong with him.......or his bottle of Jack. | |
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dac88
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Joined: 12/9/2006
Msg: 97 | |
| Marijuana....Friend of Foe?
Posted: 1/24/2007 7:37:51 PM | I am against all forms of drugs. Hell, I have a hard time taking pain killers.
I used to smoke pot amongst other drugs years ago and decided that drug use just wasn't for me.
I have my reasons why I quit and I would like to mention them in this post but I feel that I would rather keep them to myself.
I have dated a few women who smoke pot. Some were recreational users and some were regular users. I have known quite a few men who smoke as well.
I felt that the regular users were completely brain dead and I couldn't have a decent conversation with them whatsoever. Their brains were totally focused on smoking the next reefer or yabbering about something that made no sense whatsoever.
The recreational users on the other hand did it every few months or so and I didn't see a problem with it then.
Using pot for medical use is ok in my books. But only for true medical reasons. I knew someone who smoked for pain in ther knees. Gimme a break! I have pain in my knees all the time. Do you see me goin out and smoking pot to relieve the pain? NO.
To each thier own. I just won't do drugs and don't bother attempting to pressure me into it. If you do, I probably won't talk to you again. I don't need that crap in my life.
By the way, I back up recent posters BBBashful and Zoltars. | |
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| Marijuana....Friend of Foe?
Posted: 1/25/2007 1:33:02 PM | Hey Preset!
Hardly an unbiased site!
Try a university, research orginization WITHOUT a preset agenda!
Then you might have some real data to show us!
Please show me a university study or research organisation that does NOT have a preset agenda. I've been there and done that with university research; taken the courses on "How to Lie With Statistics".
Simply through first hand experience over the years of watching once close friends who became "potheads", slowly morph into what they were inhaling and injesting (ie plant/vegetable material). Over a span of over 40yrs of heavy use, the observations were NOT pretty.
I thought I did a pretty thorough search for the facts and I was not able to find any studies done by a qualified organization that proved scientifically, without a doubt, that marijuana use has a POSITIVE long term benefit. Please let us all know what your sources are. I'm open minded and interested. | |
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| Marijuana....Friend of Foe?
Posted: 1/25/2007 1:50:50 PM | I dunno, I think we all have a pretty good idea what pot does to the brain, among other parts of the body.
Legal or not, I think its your decision. I choose to smoke on occasion (ok ok more than "on occasion" lmao).
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| Marijuana....Friend of Foe?
Posted: 1/25/2007 2:01:10 PM | Has anyone seen the movie Reefer Madness? A great propaganda film made with help by the American government in the 1930's. It goes into how marijuana usage can first lead to laughter, and then hallucinations, and finally random acts of violence. Anyways...back to the subject at hand...
I personally do not use it or any other recreational drug. My personaly choice...no real eithical reason or such because quite honestly I don't find it worse than nicotine, caffeine, or alcohol. I don't think it's something that children should be exposed two, but that's really no different than the other drugs I mentioned. Just my take. | |
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